University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Siena
UNI Blitzes Siena, 82-65
12/12/2009 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - The University of Northern Iowa men's basketball squad ran its win streak to six in a row with an impressive 82-65 victory over the Siena Saints in the McLeod Center.
All five Panther starters reached double figures in scoring. Leading the way was senior guard Ali Farokhmanesh with 15 points. Senior guard Kwadzo Ahelegbe and senior center Jordan Eglseder each tossed in 14, while both senior forward Adam Koch and sophomore guard Lucas O'Rear.
Siena bounced out to a 7-2 lead but a 10-3 run from UNI gave the Panthers their first lead of the game at 12-10 on a three-pointer by Ahelegbe with 14:05 to play in the first stanza. The lead then seesawed over the next four minutes before another run by the Panthers gave the home crowd a chance to rise to their feet. UNI trailed 18-17 after a bucket by Siena's Ronald Moore but then responded with a 12-2 run that was started by a three-pointer from redshirt freshman Anthony James out of the left corner. The run was capped by a Kerwin Dunham-free throw to give UNI a 29-29 lead with 6:12 to play until halftime.
The Saints responded with cutting the lead to two at 29-27, however the Panthers were able to take a 33-30 lead into the intermission - a score in stark contrast to last year's halftime score which saw Siena leading 40-19.
The visitors took their first lead of the second half at 37-36 on a conventional three-point play by Alex Franklin with 17:28 left in the game. Farokhmanesh answered the Saints' threat by draining all three free throws after being fouled on a three-point shot with 17:19 left. Siena regained the lead at 40-39 on a free throw by O.D. Anosike, but again the Panther responded as Moran buried a three-pointer and Ahelegbe scored a layup on a backdoor cut to put UNI on top 44-40 with 15:41 to play.
The Panthers were able to put the Saints away with a decisive 15-3 run from the 8:33 mark until the 5:58 mark of the second half. Included in the run was an 8-0 spurt that saw four of the starters contribute with points of their own. Eglseder hit two free throws, Ahelegbe hit a shot, Moran drained a pull-up jumper and Adam Koch slashed in for a layup in the 8-0 mini-run. Siena got no closer than 13 the rest of the way and the Panthers extended the margin to 18 at 77-59 on another Adam Koch bucket.
UNI outscored Siena in the second half, 49-35.
NOTES: UNI scored a season-high 82 points in the victory ... the Panthers notched a season-high 19 assists in the contest ... UNI tied a season-high with nine three-pointers ... the Panthers tied the all-time series with the Saints at 2-2 - the home team has won each matchup in the series.
